Elon 7, UNCG 3
ELON, N.C. – The UNCG baseball team took an early lead in Wednesday’s nonconference game at Elon, but the Phoenix rattled off seven unanswered runs, including five in the third, to claim a 7-3 victory at Latham Park.
The Spartans dropped to 2-4 overall, while Elon improved to 5-2.
Senior outfielders Zac MacAneney and Tyler Long recorded two hits apiece for UNCG with Long adding two RBIs and MacAneney scoring two runs. Chris King and Austin Leeney combined to go 4-for-6 to pace the Phoenix attack.
In his first collegiate start, redshirt sophomore Julian Abreu took the loss, giving up seven runs (five earned) on eight hits. He struck out three and did not walk a batter. Matt Harris nabbed the win for Elon, tossing six innings and allowing two runs on four hits. He matched his career high with eight strikeouts against just one walk.
The UNCG offense went to work early in the contest, as MacAneney led off with a sharp single to right field and Long sent an 0-2 pitch sailing over the right-field wall to make the score 2-0 after a half inning. Elon answered with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the second to knot the score at 2. Kalbfleisch made a perfect throw from left field to nail a runner at home to end the inning and keep the game tied.
The Spartans had a great chance to take the lead back in the top of the third. MacAneney led off with a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch, but he would stay there after a pop up, strikeout and groundout. The Phoenix broke the game open in the bottom of the third, batting around and scoring five runs on six hits and two UNCG errors to take a 7-2 advantage.
A bit of misfortune plagued the Spartans in the top of the fourth as Ruiz doubled to lead off the inning but his shoe came off rounding second and he was gunned down at third trying to stretch his hit into a triple. A strikeout and groundout by Wright and Woody then ended the half inning.
The bullpen junior duo of LHP Bryant Stafford and RHP Keaton Haack threw the final 5 1/3 innings for UNCG and they combined brilliantly to limit Elon to just two hits while striking out eight (four apiece). However, the Spartans could muster just one more run, an RBI single by Kalbfleisch, over the remaining frames. UNCG had its best chance in the top of the eighth with the bases loaded, but a fielder’s choice out ended the threat.
Weather permitting, the Blue and Gold returns to the field this weekend and hosts Akron in a three-game series at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. First pitch for Friday’s opening contest is scheduled for 4 p.m.
Clemson 11, Wofford 5
CLEMSON, S.C. – The Wofford baseball team suffered its first defeat of the season with an 11-5 loss to Clemson on Wednesday afternoon at Doug Kingsmore Stadium. With the Terriers leading 5-3 after the top of the fifth inning, the Tigers scored the next eight runs to secure the win.
Wofford is 7-1 on the season, while Clemson is 5-2 overall. The game was delayed by one day due to inclement weather. The Terriers were led by James Plaisted and Matthew Pelt with two hits each, while Carson Waln drove in two runs. Clemson was led by Reed Rohlman, who was 4-of-4 from the plate and scored four runs.
In the first, the Tigers led off with a walk, followed by a double from Reed Rohlman. A single by Tyler Krieger drove in both runs for a 2-0 lead.
With two out in the top of the second, Pelt hit a single and stole second base. A single to shallow right field by Conor Clancey scored Pelt for a 2-1 game.
With one out in the bottom of the third, Rohlman hit a solo home run to right field to make it a 3-1 game.
To lead off the top of the fourth inning, Waln walked and Pelt hit an infield single. Clancey reached on an error to load the bases. A sacrifice fly by Kody Ruedisili drove in a run to make it a 3-2 score. Pelt moved to third on a wild pitch and a fielder’s choice by Derek Hirsch scored Pelt to tie the game at 3-3.
Matt Ramsay opened the fifth inning with a walk. Plaisted singled through the left side and a sacrifice bunt by Mack Nathanson moved the runners into scoring position. A single by Waln drove in both runners to give the Terriers a 5-3 lead.
The Tigers had the bases loaded with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning after a single, walk and hit by pitch. Steven Duggar drove in a run on a ground out and an infield single by Chris Okey tied the game at 5-5. Another single by Weston Wilson gave the Tigers a 6-5 advantage. Clemson left the bases loaded to end the fifth inning.
With one runner on base in the bottom of the seventh, Wilson hit a home run to left field for an 8-5 Clemson lead.
Clemson had one out in the bottom of the eighth before a walk and a single. A single by Steven Krieger and an error in the outfield allowed both runs to score for a 10-5 lead. A single by Duggar plated a run for an 11-5 advantage.
Wofford pitcher John Caskey, in his first career start, threw 4 1/3 innings and gave up four runs on five hits. He had four strikeouts and only walked one batter. Connell Anderson (0-1) went two innings with three runs allowed on four hits.
Clate Schmidt started for Clemson and went 4 2/3 innings with five runs allowed on six hits along with three strikeouts. Charlie Barnes (1-0) retired 10 straight batters and had two strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings. Alex Bostic pitched the ninth with two strikeouts.
Wofford will begin a four-game series with Harvard on Friday afternoon at Russell C. King Field.
ETSU alters weekend baseball schedule
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The schedule to this weekend’s ETSU-Butler baseball series has been altered due to the snowfall that hit the Tri-Cities region overnight on Monday, announced head coach Tony Skole on Wednesday.
ETSU and Butler will now play a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 1:05 p.m., while Sunday’s single game is still on schedule for 1:05 p.m. at Thomas Stadium.
Weather alters Samford’s weekend schedule
STARKVILLE, Miss. – The Samford baseball team’s schedule for this weekend’s tournament at Mississippi State has been changed, MSU announced Wednesday afternoon.
Samford will now take on Arizona on Friday at 12 p.m. CST. The Bulldogs will then play 13th-ranked Mississippi State on Saturday at approximately 2:30 p.m. in a game that will be broadcast on the SEC Network+. Samford will wrap up play in the tournament on Sunday by taking on Arizona at 1 p.m. and Mississippi State at approximately 4:30 p.m.
Western Carolina’s Friday game postponed
CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The recent run of winter storms across Western North Carolina has claimed another game on the 2015 Catamount baseball schedule.
Due to the remnants of Winter Storm Quantum and what is expected with Winter Storm Remus slated to make its impact on Wednesday night into Thursday morning, officials at Western Carolina University have postponed Friday’s scheduled series opener against Youngstown State. The two teams will not play on Friday afternoon.
Coaches and school officials will meet again on Thursday to determine the travel concerns, field conditions, and weather forecasts to determine the status of the remainder of the weekend series.